- April 20, 2024
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Fall is in the air, and for Winter Garden music fans, that can only mean one thing: It’s time for Winter Garden MusicFest.
The free event takes place Oct. 7 to 9 in downtown Winter Garden. This year, music fans will get to enjoy an additional stage for music at the Plant Street Market.
The festival covers multiple genres from a range of artists, many of which are local to the Orlando area.
Growing up, Andy Matchett rode around the Orlando area listening to the tunes of the 1950s and ’60s on the radio. During that time, Matchett made some fond memories. Radio stations no longer offer those tunes for Matchett, who graduated in 1998 from Dr. Phillips High. When he realized there weren’t many ’50s tribute bands comprising people who didn’t grow up in that era, he saw an opportunity.
Now, Matchett and a seven-piece band — Johnny Dee and the Starlights — will headline Winter Garden MusicFest.
“We’ve been fired up about this since we stepped off the stage at last year’s MusicFest,” Matchett said.
The band, which features members Abraham Couch, Amanda Warren, Randy Coole, Whitney Abell-Couch, Tommy Cooper and Simon Palombi, focuses its efforts around Central Florida.
A few of the band members connected during a production of “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” at Sonnentag Theatre at the IceHouse in Mount Dora, where Matchett starred as Buddy Holly. Matchett later turned down an offer to play Buddy on a national tour, deciding that touring with Johnny Dee and the Starlights was a better use of his time and resources.
The group’s show is high-energy, and because it plays many four-hour shows in The Villages, the shorter set at MusicFest will allow the group to showcase its best work, Matchett said.
Johnny Dee and the Starlights headline MusicFest at 10 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Bright House Networks Stage. For more, visit johnnydeeandthestarlights.com
When Off Kilter played its final performance at Epcot in 2014, group founder Jamie Holton was shocked by the outpouring of support.
The Celtic rock band had performed at the park for 18 years, but yet continued demand for the band came as a surprise to Holton, who lives in Winter Garden.
“I wasn’t prepared for how many people wanted more Off Kilter,” Holton said. “It was wonderful that we had touched so many people’s lives for so many years.”
The support the band received gave the motivation to continue. It has toured throughout Florida and the continental United States.
The band comprises six members who rotate for different performances. One of those members, Jason Thomas, plays the fiddle and is also a Winter Garden resident.
Thomas and Holton met in 1991 when they were roommates while working at Tokyo Disneyland.
“He was playing on a solo show by himself at Fantasyland at Tokyo Disneyland,” Thomas said. “I just was amazed at his abilities to entertain.”
The band performs at 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 7, at Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland. To learn more about Off Kilter, visit offkilterrocks.com.
Contact Jennifer Nesslar at [email protected].
NOTE: Due to weather conditions, the Friday evening performances have been cancelled.
Handpicked
Jason Thomas and Billy Varnes of Off Kilter also perform in Handpicked, a blues and country acoustic band. Varnes performs guitar, Larry Crosby plays the five-stringed banjo, and Thomas plays the fiddle and mandolin.
See Handpicked at 2:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main streets.
Brutha Niel & the Real Deal
Ocoee resident Tim Nielsen has been able to focus more on music since he retired from his career as an elementary school teacher. He plays Americana music based around the blues. If you frequent Winter Garden hangouts such as the Attic Door or the Chef’s Table, you are probably familiar with Brutha Niel.
See Brutha Niel at 6:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 8, at Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main streets.
Grimes Alley
For the sixth-consecutive year, Grimes Alley returns to MusicFest. The band, started by Tom Grimes, incorporated Grimes’ children into blues performances. When they went off to college, Grimes began to incorporate more family and friends into the performances.
Saturday, Oct. 8
Noon John Wyatt (Acoustic), Tasting Room at the Chef’s Table
12:30 p.m. Layla Brisbois (Rock/Pop), The Attic Door
1 p.m. Acoustic Tonic (Americana/Bluegrass), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by Crawford Tire Service
1 p.m. Blondetourage (Pop/Rock), Melts On Main Street
1 p.m. DJ Renee (Kids DJ Fun), Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital Gazebo Stage
1:15 p.m. Sean Holcomb (Country/Pop), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Asma & Asma, P.A.
2:15 p.m. Handpicked (Americana/Bluegrass), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by Phil & Ann Cross
2:15 p.m. Kurt Frohlic (Rock ‘n Roll), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
2:30 p.m. Sleeping Sunset (Rock/Pop), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Ginger Lore, P.A.
3:30 p.m. Rosie O’Grady’s Highlanders (Celtic Bagpipes), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by New World Celts
3:30 p.m. Layla Brisbois (Rock/Pop), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
3:45 p.m. Michael Petrovich (Latin/Guitar), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Bright Future Electric
4:15 p.m. The Wait (Rock ‘n Roll), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by Harry & Lucy Bradford
4:15 p.m. Circa (Acoustic) Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital Gazebo Stage
4:30 p.m. Jim Snyder and The Raisin Cake Orchestra (Grooving American Jazz), Pilars Martini
4:45 p.m. Layla Brisbois - Trio (Rock/Pop), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
5 p.m. Gerry Williams (R&B/Jam), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Melts on Main Street (MOMS)
5:15 p.m. Gatlin (Acoustic) Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital Gazebo Stage
5:30 p.m. Kasson (Indie/Rock), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets - Presented by the Tasting Room at the Chef’s Table
5:50 p.m. Layla Brisbois (Rock/Pop), Urban Flats
6:15 p.m. The 502’s (Folk/Americana), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Lynn Walker Wright, P.A.
6 p.m. Late Fer Dinner (Americana/Jam), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
6:15 p.m. Stepanie and Yardis (Acoustic) Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital Gazebo Stage
6:45 p.m. Brutha Niel & the Real Deal (Rock/Americana), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by MoonCricket Grille
7:15 p.m. Crenshaw (Indie/Folk), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
7:15 p.m. Stu Kinniburgh (Acoustic) Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital Gazebo Stage
7:30 p.m. David Oliver Willis (Rock ’n’ Roll), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Lynn Walker Wright, P.A.
7:30 p.m. Bird Dog Bobby Band (Blues/Rock), MoonCricket Grille
7:45 p.m. GT and the Jam Campaign (Americana/Jam), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by Steve Stanford
8 p.m. James Bondy, The Attic Door
8 p.m. Tim Turner, Tasting Room at the Chef’s Table
8 p.m. Suzy Park Hosmer & Ricky Melvern with the Per and Tamara Danielsson Quartet (Jazz/Gospel/Hits), Pilars Martini
8:30 p.m. Beemo (Americana/Bluegrass), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
8:45 p.m. Anita Drink (Rock n Roll), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Ronald W. Sikes, Attorney
9 p.m. MPiRe (Rock/Pop), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by Urban Flats
9:30 p.m. Acoustic Inferno (Acoustic), Urban Flats
10 p.m. Johnny Dee and the Starlights (Early Rock ‘n Roll), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by the City of Winter Garden
Sunday, Oct. 9
Noon Katie Lay (Acoustic Pop/Rock), Melts On Main Street
12:30 p.m. Casey Hurley and Tim Nielsen (Blues/Rock), The Attic Door
1 p.m. Ocoee High School, Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets
1 p.m. You & I (Rock), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
1 p.m. Kelly DeWayne Richards (Piano Sing Along), Pilars Martini
1 p.m. Tony 506 Band (Party Favorites with Calypso Twist), MoonCricket Grille
1:15 p.m. Peyote Moon (Folk/Americana), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland
1:15 p.m. Jimmy Killgallon (Acoustic) Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital Gazebo Stage
2:15 p.m. Ennis Pruitt (Celtic Rock), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by Billy & Kathy Burch
2:15 p.m. Seth Pause (Acoustic), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
2:15 p.m. Chuck Magid (Acoustic) Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital Gazebo Stage
2:30 p.m. Freightliners (Americana), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Woodard & Curran
3:30 p.m. Orlando Taiko Dojo (Japanese Drums), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets – Presented by Gerald & Virginia Vaughn
3:15 p.m. O-Town Sound Chorus, Orlando Health-Health Central Hospital Gazebo Stage
3:30 p.m. Layla Brisbois (Rock/Pop), Crooked Can Stage at the Plant Street Market
3:45 p.m. School of Rock (Rock n Roll), Bright House Networks Stage at Plant and Highland – Presented by Irv Lipscomb
4:30 p.m. Winter Garden First Baptist Praise Band (Gospel/Praise), Ace Hardware Stage at Plant and Main Streets
5 p.m. Jazz Jam with Per Danielsson, Charlie Silva, Walt Hubbard (Jazz), Pilars Martini
